Two advocacy groups have launched a report on sources of BPA. A study has found BPA on both receipts and money. A very questionable substance, BPA has been discovered on receipts and paper. Exactly what is a “safe dose” of BPA is hotly debated. The levels discovered in receipts are below “safe” US levels. Canada and some European governments, however, say the levels are far too high. Those $1 bills could likely force many people to obtain a personal loans for healthcare expenses if they have too much contact with the bills. Source of article – BPA chemical found on money possibly transferred from receipts by MoneyBlogNewz.
Details on BPA
Bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA, is an organic chemical usually found in plastics. Hardening polycarbonate and epoxy resins is what BPA is typically used for. BPA could be used also to line the metal that is in cans of food. BPA mimics estrogen in the body. In animal studies, BPA has been linked to everything from cancer to thyroid dysfunction to obesity and neurological disorders. DNA can be altered permanently by high enough BPA exposure also. BPA is treated as toxic in Canada. In the U.S., BPA is a “chemical of concern,” though not yet heavily regulated.
Receipts have BPA
There had been "preliminary evidence" found earlier this year in three studies that receipts carry a lot of Bisphenol A on them. A powder of ink and BPA blended together is used on Thermal receipts. The ink is released and prints whenever the powder is heated or pressed. Many restaurants, retail stores and shops use thermal receipts. A "microdose" of BPA is given if the powder rubs off the receipts. One study estimates that average individuals would not “receive more than about 2.5 percent of the tolerable daily intake of BPA from handling a single receipt.”
Money having Bisphenol A too
After the study that found BPA could be transferred from receipts, researchers turned their attention to money. The Washington Toxic Coalition conducted a study of 22 $1 bills, and found a “significant” amount of BPA on 21 of them. Money would have gotten the BPA on them from being with receipts. This isn't proven yet and is just a theory. Just keep in mind that the study is very small and needs to be researched more. You need to make an effort to minimize your exposure to BPA by handling money less. It is possible that an act like the Toxic Substances Control Act making BPA a toxic substance may be passed by Congress soon though.
Articles cited
Science News
sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61764/title/Receipts_a_large_%E2%80%94_and_largely_ignored_%E2%80%94_source_of_BPA
Time
healthland.time.com/2010/12/08/dirty-money-traces-of-bpa-found-on-currency/
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#World_Health_Organization
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